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                           [LENOX BANCORP LETTERHEAD]



                                 April 25, 2001




Dear ESOP Participant:


      The Board of Directors  and  management  encourage  you to direct the ESOP
Trustee to vote "For" each of  management's  nominees (Henry E. Brown and Vernon
Morrison) and "For"  ratification of the  independent  auditors by returning the
attached "GREEN" vote authorization form. In the event you have already directed
the ESOP Trustee to vote,  and you wish to change your vote,  you may send later
dated directions to the ESOP Trustee.

      You may have  recently  received  proxy  materials  from Mr.  John C. Lame
soliciting votes for him and his nominee,  Mr. Guy Napier.  Mr. Lame's materials
request  your vote in favor of Mr.  Lame and Mr.  Napier on a White  proxy card.
Please do nothing with the White Proxy Card.  In the event you have returned the
white proxy card to the ESOP trustee,  you may change your  instructions to vote
for management's  nominees by returning the attached "GREEN" vote  authorization
form.

      All directions to the ESOP Trustee must be returned to the ESOP Trustee by
April 30, 2001.  The latest dated  instructions  received by the ESOP Trustee by
that date will be the  instructions  used by the ESOP Trustee when voting shares
held in the ESOP.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    /s/ Virginia M. Heitzman

                                    Virginia M. Heitzman
                                    President, Chief Executive Officer
                                     and Director

 2

Name:____________________
Shares:___________________


                          ESOP VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM
                          ----------------------------

      I understand  that First Bankers Trust Company,  the ESOP Trustee,  is the
holder  of record  and  custodian  of all  shares of Lenox  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  common stock  attributed to me under the Lenox Savings Bank Employee
Stock Ownership Plan. I understand that my voting  instructions are solicited on
behalf  of  the  Company's   Board  of  Directors  for  the  Annual  Meeting  of
Stockholders to be held on May 9, 2001.

      Accordingly, you are to vote my shares as follows:

      1.    The election as directors  of all nominees  listed  (unless the "For
            All Except" box is marked and the  instructions  below are  complied
            with).

                      Henry E. Brown and Vernon L. Morrison

            FOR               VOTE WITHHELD                 FOR ALL EXCEPT
            ---               -------------                 --------------

            |_|                   |_|                            |_|

INSTRUCTION:  To withhold your vote for any  individual  nominee,  mark "FOR ALL
EXCEPT" and write that nominee's name on the line provided below.


================================================================================

      2.    The  ratification of  the  appointment of Clark, Schaefer, Hackett &
            Co. as independent  auditors of Lenox  Bancorp,  Inc. for the fiscal
            year ending December 31, 2001.

            FOR                     AGAINST                 ABSTAIN
            ---                     -------                 -------

            |_|                       |_|                     |_|


THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE LISTED
PROPOSALS.

The ESOP Trustee is hereby authorized to vote any shares attributed to me in its
trust capacity as indicated above.



      Date_______________________   Signature______________________________


PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS GREEN FORM IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE BY APRIL 30, 2001.